Tragic Sentences: Divergent Fates of Two Indonesian Ministers — One Jailed 10 Years, One Death Sentence

JAKARTA, CNBC Indonesia — Holding a ministerial position within the power circle does not always end well. Indonesia’s history records two tragic stories involving President Soekarno’s aides. The fates of both men ended bitterly. One received a death sentence for massive corruption, while the other spent nearly a decade in prison after being accused of involvement in the September 30 Movement (G30S). The first figure was Jusuf Muda Dalam (JMD), Minister of Central Banking from 1963 to 1966. The second was Oei Tjoe Tat, a State Minister and one of President Soekarno’s trusted aides. Though both ended up behind bars, the reasons for their downfall were vastly different. The First Corruptor Sentenced to Death Jusuf Muda Dalam was embroiled in a major scandal in 1966 while serving as Minister of Central Banking. He was accused of abusing his authority by granting deferred payment import licences worth $270 million, issuing problematic loans, embezzling Rp97.3 billion in revolutionary funds, and smuggling weapons from Czechoslovakia. The funds were allegedly used to finance a lavish lifestyle. The case sparked public outrage as it occurred during a deteriorating economic climate. Amid high inflation and soaring prices of basic necessities, JMD was found to have purchased houses, land, cars, and jewellery using proceeds from his corrupt activities. The trial, which began in August 1966, was consistently packed with spectators. During one hearing, JMD joked about his six wives: ‘Your Honour must understand why I hurried to marry six times after seeing my beautiful wives,’ he said. On 8 September 1966, Chief Judge Made Labde handed down a death sentence. ‘With full confidence and responsibility to God Almighty, I hereby impose the death penalty!’ he declared. All of JMD’s assets were seized by the state. Although the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, the death sentence was never carried out. JMD died of tetanus in prison in September 1976. To date, he remains the only corruptor in Indonesia to have been sentenced to death. Soekarno’s Trusted Minister Imprisoned Unlike JMD, Oei Tjoe Tat fell due to political upheaval following the G30S. A lawyer later appointed as State Minister by Soekarno in 1963, he was known as one of the president’s closest loyalists. He often received special assignments, including secret missions related to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation. This closeness became a burden after Soekarno’s position weakened. Following the issuance of the March 11, 1966, Supersemar order, Suharto began arresting ministers perceived as close to leftist groups. Oei was arrested on 18 March 1966. Before his arrest, Oei claimed he frequently received intimidation via anonymous calls, anonymous letters, and other threats. Nevertheless, his supporters argued that accusations of his involvement with leftist groups were never supported by solid legal evidence. In 1976, Oei was tried and sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly collaborating with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and having close ties to its leaders. Oei rejected all charges, calling his trial a politically motivated sham. After nearly a decade in prison, Oei was released on 30 December 1977. Unlike JMD, who is remembered as a symbol of large-scale corruption during the Old Order era, Oei Tjoe Tat’s name has gradually faded from public memory despite once being a trusted minister of Soekarno.